It’s never a good time to ask people to pay more taxes, and our still-struggling economy makes such a request even more difficult.

But it is absolutely the right time to make sure our children get the best education we can give them.

That is why the News-Leader Editorial Board endorses both the bond issue and the tax levy increase for Springfield Public Schools on the ballot next month.

We know that paying more taxes is painful, and we are aware of some serious questions about the district’s justifications, but we also know that our students deserve to have buildings that are safe and conducive to learning, technology that is up to date, enough teachers and staff who are paid well, and programs that will prepare them for the future.

In these uncertain economic times, the district has faced uncertain revenues, especially in the form of financial support from state and federal governments. The district has not come to the taxpayers for a levy increase in nine years, and even with the raise, our school tax levy remains among the lowest in the state.

Like Ozarks families, the district has also faced increased expenses, especially in the cost of utilities, fuel and health care benefits. And, like the rest of us, the district has cut its expenses, putting off spending on facility repairs and even new textbooks. But some costs have risen and can’t be put off, including transportation, which took a hit on state funding while the district expanded its bus routes to make sure kids get to school safely, without having to walk across busy streets.

The district, the second largest in the state, has also seen an unexplained increase in the number of students attending, and a demographic report predicts continued growth. At the same time, many of the students need some type of assistance, from special education to social services, that puts additional pressures on the district.

We have looked at the district’s numbers — revenues, expenses, per-student spending. All have gone up. Those numbers have raised legitimate questions from some community members who have argued against the need for more tax revenues.

• Students who have to travel outside of their growing neighborhoods to attend a school built for an earlier population;

• Kids who have limited access to computer technology that will be absolutely necessary for them as they go on with their education or into the workforce;

• Teachers who are in charge of larger classrooms with fewer resources and support staff;

• Students and families who have access to fewer resources with cuts in community service staff;

• And administrators who are juggling the business of one of the state’s largest districts with a steadily declining number of people to do the work.

There is no excuse for allowing this to continue. If our children are our priority, then we must find a way to provide what they need — the best educational experience possible.

That means the residents of the district must be willing to take responsibility. We have often argued for more local control over how we run our community. This is one way it is done — by lifting the burden ourselves.

We can do that by voting “yes” on both the bond issue and the tax levy.

A “yes” vote on the bond issue will not add to your current property tax bill but will extend the current 51-cent debt service tax another four years to raise $71.65 million in order to add classrooms to northside and eastside elementary schools, build an elementary school on the growing southwest side of the district and renovate two aging high schools. The money will also allow the district to replace aging computers and expand network bandwidth to allow for maximum use of the Internet.

A “yes” vote on the 20-cent tax levy, phased in over two years, will increase the property tax bill on a $100,000 home in the district by $38. That money is absolutely necessary to staff the expansions planned with the bond issue, while maintaining class sizes and replacing support staff.

This is an investment in our future. It is the only way we can take control of our own destiny and guarantee that our children get the kind of education that will make them and our community successful.

Vote “yes” on April 2. Tell our students and our school district that we expect the best, and we are willing to pay for it.

Our vision for Springfield and the Ozarks in 2013:

• Make our community a great place for kids, where every child grows up safe, happy, healthy and successful